sâmbătă, 18 aprilie 2026

Gheorghe ANDREI - COMPLEX NUMBERS (part II) - Some Problems -- 3 / Gheorghe ANDREI - NUMERE COMPLEXE (partea II) - Câteva Probleme -- 3 / Gheorghe ANDREI - KOMPLEXNÉ ČÍSLA (časť II) - Niektoré problémy -- 3

 I wrote about the book here.


               We discuss problems no. ##3, 4, page 21 (solved on page 177) and #38, page 25 (solved on page 185).

                Problem #3  "Let  $\varepsilon$  be a complex cube root of unity. Prove that

$|z-1|^2+|z-\varepsilon|^2+|z_\varepsilon^2|^2=3(|z|^2+1)"$



                Problem #4   "Let  $\varepsilon$  be a complex cube root of unity. Prove that

$|z+u|^2+|z+\varepsilon u|^2+|z+\varepsilon^2 u|^2=3(|z|^2+|u|^2)$

                         whatever  $z,\;u\in\mathbb{C}$  are."



                                  Problem #38  "Prove that :

                                           a)   $(z-1)^2+(z-\varepsilon)^2+(z-\bar\varepsilon)^2=3z^2$

                where  $\varepsilon=\cos\frac{2\pi}{3}+\imath \sin\frac{2\pi}{3};$

                                          $\textbf{b)}\;\;\;(z-1)^2+(z-\varepsilon)^2+(z-\varepsilon ^2)^2+\dots+(z-\varepsilon ^{n-1})^2=nz^2$

where  $\varepsilon=\cos \frac{2\pi}{n}+\imath \sin \frac{2\pi}{n};$

 $$\textbf{c)}\;\;\; \sum_{k=0}^{n-1}|z-\varepsilon ^k|^2=n(|z|^2+1|)."$$



                        Solution of #4(CiP - Same as the solution on page 177) 

      The cube roots of unity are  $\left \{1,\;-\frac{1}{2}\pm \imath \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right \}$. Let  $\varepsilon \neq 1$  be one of them. We have

$\varepsilon ^3=1,\;\;\;1+\varepsilon+\varepsilon ^2=0,\;\;\;\bar \varepsilon =\varepsilon ^2 \;\;\;\varepsilon \cdot \bar \varepsilon =1\tag{U3}$

          Using that  $|z|^2=z \cdot \bar z,\;\;(\forall) z\in \mathbb{C}$  we have

$|z+u|^2+|z+\varepsilon u|^2+|z+\varepsilon ^2 u|^2=$

$=(z+u)\cdot \overline{(z+u)}+(z+\varepsilon u)\cdot \overline{(z+\varepsilon u)}+(z+\varepsilon ^2 u)\cdot \overline{(z+\varepsilon ^2 u)}=$

$=(z+u)(\bar z +\bar u)+(z+\varepsilon u)(\bar z+\bar \varepsilon \bar u)+(z+\varepsilon ^2 u)(\bar z+\overline{\varepsilon ^2}\bar u)\overset{(U_3)}{=}$

$=(z\bar z+z\bar u+\bar z u+u\bar u)+(z \bar z+\varepsilon ^2 z \bar u+\varepsilon \bar z u+u \bar u)+(z\bar z+\varepsilon z \bar u+\varepsilon ^2 \bar z u+\varepsilon ^3 u \bar u)=$

$=3|z|^2+z\bar u (1+\varepsilon^2+\varepsilon)+\bar z u (1+\varepsilon +\varepsilon^2)+3|u|^2\underset{(U_3)}{=}3|z|^2+3|u|^2.$

$\blacksquare$


                        Solution of #3(CiP)

               If  $u=-1$,  the statement of Problem  #3 is obtained, or the calculation can be redone in this particular case.

$\blacksquare$

                REMARK CiP   On the cited page 177, the author of the book mentions another possible solution, using the identity(according to page 41, Exercise #10a)) :

$|z_1+z_2|^2+|z_2+z_3|^2+|z_3+z_1|^2=|z_1|^2+|z_2|^2+|z_3|^2+|z_1+z_2+z_3|^2$

Damn, I couldn't do this.

<end REM>


                        Solution of #38(CiP)

               a)  We have

  $(z-1)^2+(z-\varepsilon)^2+(z-\bar \varepsilon)^2 \overset{(U_3)}{=}(z-1)^2+(z-\varepsilon)^2+(z-\varepsilon^2)^2=$

$=(z^2-2z+1)+(z^2-2\varepsilon z+\varepsilon^2)+(z^2-2\varepsilon^2z+\varepsilon^4)=$

$=3z^2-2(1+\varepsilon+\varepsilon^2)z+(1+\varepsilon^2+\varepsilon)\underset{(U_3)}{=}3z^2$

$\blacksquare$

               b)   Let  $\varepsilon=\cos\frac{2\pi}{n}+\imath \sin \frac{2\pi}{n}$; we have  $\varepsilon ^n=1$,  and since  $1-\varepsilon ^n=(1-\varepsilon)(1+\varepsilon+\varepsilon^2+\dots+\varepsilon ^{n-1})=0$  it follows

$$\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}\varepsilon ^k=0. \tag{1}$$

But we also have

$$\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}(\varepsilon ^k)^2=0;\tag{2}$$

this is verified by distinguishing between odd and even cases for  $n$ :

$$n=2m+1\Rightarrow\sum_{k=0}^{2m}\varepsilon ^{2k}=\sum_{k=0}^m \varepsilon ^{2k}+\sum_{k=m+1}^{2m}\varepsilon^{2k}\;\;\;\;\;\overset{\varepsilon^{2m+1}=1}{\underset{\varepsilon^{2m+2}=\varepsilon^1,\;\varepsilon^{2m+4}=\varepsilon^3,\dots, \varepsilon^{4m}=\varepsilon^{2m-1}}{=}}\;\;\sum_{l=0}^{2m}\varepsilon^l\overset{(1)}{=}0;$$

$$n=2m\Rightarrow\sum_{k=0}^{2m-1}\varepsilon^{2k}=\sum_{k=0}^{m-1}\varepsilon^{2k}+\sum_{k=m}^{2m-1}\varepsilon^{2k}\;\;\;\;\;\overset{\varepsilon^{2m}=1}{\underset{\varepsilon^{2m}=1,\;\varepsilon^{2m+2}=\varepsilon^2,\dots, \varepsilon^{4m-2}=\varepsilon^{2m-2}}{=}}\;\;=2\cdot \sum_{l=0}^{m-1}\varepsilon^{2l}=0$$

the latter based on identity  $1-\varepsilon^{2m}=(1-\varepsilon^2)(1+\varepsilon^2+\varepsilon^4+\dots+\varepsilon^{2m-2})=0$.

          So we calculate 

$$\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}(z-\varepsilon^k)^2=\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}(z^2-2z\varepsilon^k+(\varepsilon^k)^2=nz^2-2z\cdot \sum_{k=0}^{n-1}\varepsilon^k+\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}(\varepsilon ^k)^2\;\;\underset{(1)\;(2)}{=}nz^2$$

$\blacksquare$

                    c)  Let us note that, along with (1), we also have its conjugate relation :

$$\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}(\bar \varepsilon)^k=0 \tag{3}$$

We obtain by an easy calculation :

$$\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}|z-\varepsilon^k|^2=\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}(z-\varepsilon^k)\cdot \overline{(z-\varepsilon^k)}=\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}(z-\varepsilon^k)(\bar z-\bar \varepsilon ^k)=$$

$$=\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}(z\cdot \bar z-\bar z \cdot \varepsilon^k-z\cdot \bar \varepsilon^k+\varepsilon^k\cdot \bar \varepsilon^k)=$$

$$\overset{z\cdot \bar z=|z|^2}{\underset{\varepsilon \cdot \bar \varepsilon=|\varepsilon|^2=1}{=}}\;\;\;\sum_{k=0}^{n-1}(|z|^2+1)-\bar z\cdot \sum_{k=0}^{n-1}\varepsilon^k-z\cdot \sum_{k=0}^{n-1}\bar \varepsilon^k\overset{(1)}{\underset{(3)}{=}}n(|z|^2+1).$$

                             REMARK CiP   These formulas take place starting from  $n=2$ :

$|z-1|^2+|z+1|^2=2(|z|^2+1);$

$n=3$ is the subject of exercise  #3.

$\blacksquare$

duminică, 12 aprilie 2026

Gheorghe ANDREI - COMPLEX NUMBERS (part II) - Some Problems -- 2 / Gheorghe ANDREI - NUMERE COMPLEXE (partea II) - Câteva Probleme -- 2 // Gheorghe ANDREI - اعداد مختلط (قسمت دوم) - برخی از مسائل - 2

 You can find the book in my Electronic Library. The author, Gh. ANDREI gets lost among the crowd of Titu ANDREESCU...(current version today ; you can still access the library by scanning the QR code from the beginning)

                                                                                       < begin preview>

ANDREESCU Titu, DOSPINESCU Gabriel, MUSHKAROV Oleg

NUMBER THEORY: CONCEPTS AND PROBLEMS

XYZ Press, Plano_TX, 2017


ANDREI Gheorghe

NUMERE COMPLEXE : partea a II-a

Ed. GIL, Zalău, 2004/2005-ebook(cadou de Craciun 25 Dec 2025 de la fiul meu

                                                                                                                     CIOBANU Victor)


ANDREIAN-CAZACU Cabiria, DELEANU Aristide, JURCHESCU Martin

TOPOLOGIE. CATEGORII. SUPRAFEȚE RIEMANNIENE

Ed. ACADEMIEI [R.S.R.], București, 1966 

< end preview>


 This post is number 2, because we believe that the post here would be number 1.

 

            Problem #2 (page 21, solved on page 177 ; in translation)

"Let  $z\in \mathbb{C}\setminus \{\pm 1\}$, with the property  $\imath \frac{z-1}{z+1}\in\mathbb{R}$. Determine  $|z|$."


ANSWER CiP

$$|z|=1$$

                    Solution CiP

                Let  $\mathbb{R}\ni a=\imath \cdot \frac{z-1}{z+1}.$  We have (because $\imath ^2=-1\Rightarrow \frac{1}{\imath}=-\imath$)

$\frac{z-1}{z+1}=\frac{a}{\imath}=-a\imath$

so

 $z=\frac{1-a\imath}{1+a\imath} \tag{1}$

hence, according to Property #20, page 13,

$|z|=\frac{|1-a\imath|}{|1+a\imath|}=\frac{\sqrt{1+a^2}}{\sqrt{1+a^2}}=1$

$\blacksquare$


                 REMARKS CiP

               $1^r$.  Continuing in (1), we have  $z=\frac{(1-a\imath)^2}{(1+a\imath)(1-a\imath)}$  so

$z= \frac{1-a^2}{1+a^2}-\frac{2a\imath}{1+a^2}\;\overset{b=-a}{=}\;\frac{1-b^2}{1+b^2}+\frac{2b\imath}{1+b^2}\tag{2}$

               $2^r$.  The reciprocal statement is also true :

$|z|=1\Rightarrow (\exists)a\in\mathbb{R}\;\;s.t.\;\;z=\frac{1-a^2}{1+a^2}-\frac{2a}{1+a^2}\imath\Leftrightarrow (\exists)b\in\mathbb{R}\;\;s.t.\;\;z=\frac{1-b^2}{1+b^2}+\frac{2b}{1+b^2}\imath \tag{3}$

Indeed, according to page 16, Trigonometric form of complex numbers, #1, we have

$z=\cos \theta+\imath \sin \theta$,  and  $\cos \theta=\frac{1-b^2}{1+b^2},\;\;\sin \theta =\frac{2b}{1+b^2},\;\;\;b=\tan \theta /2$

hence (3).

$\square$<end REM>

miercuri, 8 aprilie 2026

PROBLEM E : 12 955 ABOUT the LACK of PERFECT SQUARES

 In GMB 5/2005 magazine, page 230 :

          E:12955  Prove that for any  $x\in\mathbb{N}$, the number  $x^2+13x+40$  

                            is not a perfect square.

([Authors:] Ioana CRĂCIUN și Gh. CRĂCIUN, Plopeni)


To avoid complicated Diophantine equation techniques, we looked for the interleaving of the number  $x^2+13x+40$  between two consecutive squares.


ANSWER CiP

$(x+6)^2<x^2+13x+40<(x+7)^2 \tag{1}$


                           Solution CiP

$0<x+4<x+13\;\;\;\;|+(x^2+12x+36)$

$\Rightarrow x^2+12x+36<x^2+13x+40<x^2+14x+49\Rightarrow (x+6)^2<x^2+13x+40<(x+7)^2$

hence (1).

$\blacksquare$

joi, 2 aprilie 2026

PROBLEM C : 2870 from PROBLEMS for the ANNUAL COMPETITION of "GAZETA MATEMATICĂ"

          In GMB 5/2005 magazine, pages 234 (Romanian version) and 236 (English version).

          The problem says : 

     C:2870.  Find the minimum value of :  $E(x)=\frac{x^2-2x-1}{x^2-2x+3}$,  for  $x\in\mathbb{R}$.

[Author :] Vasile PREDAN, Curtea de Argeș


ANSWER CiP

$-1=E(1)\leqslant E(x)<1$


                     Solution CiP  We will imitate the solution from the Post here.

           The number  $\lambda$  is a value of  $E(x)\;\;\Leftrightarrow$

$\Leftrightarrow (\exists)x\in\mathbb{R}\;\;\mathbf{s.t.}\;\;E(x)=\lambda$

$\Leftrightarrow (\exists)x\in\mathbb{R}\;\;\mathbf{s.t.}\;\;x^2-2x-1=\lambda \cdot (x^2-2x+3)$

$\Leftrightarrow (\exists)x\in\mathbb{R}\;\;\mathbf{s.t.}\;\;(1-\lambda)x^2+2(\lambda-1)x-(3\lambda+1)=0 \tag{1}$

$\Leftrightarrow$  the quadratic equation (1) has solution(s).

[For  $\lambda=1$  equation (1) isn't quadratic both then in hasn't solution.].

     Using the half discriminant ($\Delta'=(b')^2-ac$) formula, the roots of equation (1) are

$x_{1,2}=\frac{1-\lambda\pm\sqrt{2-2\lambda^2}}{1-\lambda} \tag{2}$

The requirement that the roots be real numbers, $|\Delta'\geqslant 0$  implies  $2-2\lambda^2\geqslant 0\;\Leftrightarrow$

$\Leftrightarrow\;\lambda^2\leqslant 1\;\Leftrightarrow\;-1\leqslant \lambda<1.$ From (2) we obtain the expressions of the roots as follows  $x_{1,2}=1\pm \sqrt{\frac{2(1+\lambda)}{1-\lambda}}.$

$\blacksquare$

       Writing differently,  $E(x)=1-\frac{4}{(x-1)^2+2}\;\;\Rightarrow\;\; -1=1-\frac{4}{0+2}\leqslant 1-\frac{4}{(x-1)^2+2}<1$,  with the same answer.